Whitbread: acquisition of Coffee Nation paves the way for Costa Express outlets

Whitbread has completed the purchase of self-serve coffee operator Coffee Nation at a cost of GBP59.5m. The company has stated its intention to convert existing Coffee Nation sites into a new Costa Express format to complement its existing Costa outlets. The move signals Whitbread's intention to tap into the convenience trend, but it must be wary of retaining brand credentials.

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Wetherspoon extends breakfast hours to tap into out-of-home consumption behavior

From April, UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon will be extending its breakfast hours by opening at 7am instead of 9am. Although there are risks to employing this strategy, the move reflects the opportunities offered by time-scarce and on-the-go consumers. By diversifying its business model, Wetherspoon will be able to widen its value-generation potential beyond the troubled on-trade alcohol sector.

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Vegetable and vegetable flavored drinks: top flavors in new products

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US coffee: fending off targeted taxation

Seattle's coffee shops will not be the source of a solution to the city's under-funding problems. Voters refused to accept targeted taxation on espresso following a successful campaign by opponents of the scheme. However, food and drink manufacturers should expect more robust taxation proposals in the future.<BR />

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Unilever: pod-testing the water

Unilever has announced plans to launch a line of Lipton teas formulated for the Home Cafe brewing system. This move comes as consumers are increasingly replicating out-of-home consumption experiences at home, and cafe-quality coffee at home is a key growth area. However, some ambiguity remains over whether these trends can include tea.

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Unilever: on a road to recovery?

After issuing its first ever profits warning in September last year, the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant has worked hard to boost sales and increase competitiveness. However, the extent of Unilever's [ULVR.L] recovery must not be overstated, and the company faces an extremely tough year in the marketplace.

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UK soft and hot drinks: fastest growth in Europe

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UK food & drink: commuting time used to catch up on meals

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UK coffee on-the-go: Coffee Republic tightens its grip

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Twinings: simplifying experimentation

Twinings has discontinued its 'wall' of black packaging to help shoppers find their way around the tea category. The move resembles similar initiatives from other consumer packaged good players and should help simplify the selection process for consumers and capitalize on consumers' growing experimentation tendencies.

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